BEST FOUR MONTHS OF MY LIFE! September 08, 2025
By Tristan B (Spanish, Texas Tech University) - abroad from 01/05/2025 to 04/20/2025 with
Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus
I learned to see the world and the countries I visited in a whole new light.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes on Semester at Sea let you learn in a whole new way. I was challenged in new ways and took so much out of this experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
If you lean into this program, the social and cultural integration allows you to see these countries from the eyes of a local! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There is a medical staff on ship that is more than equipped to help with medical needs! |
| * Safety: |
Semester at Sea does the best job at making all of the students feel the safest while abroad. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Semester at Sea is the definition of a once in a lifetime opportunity. This experience is unlike any other and SO worth it. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
You should budget beforehand for in-country expenses! On the ship there are opportunities to spend money but much less than in country! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | In-country I probably spent around 300, on the ship I spent less than 25. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save more than you think you'll need! Maybe look into general cost of hotels/air bnbs in the countries you will be visiting. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We are taught phrases in each countries language! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 3000 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make yourself speak in that language as much as possible! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You do NOT need to worry about homesickness or being lost. This atmosphere picks you up and brings you into the family in a whole new way that is much different than other college campuses. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
